Whitewater Preserve

Hubby was off all weekend, so I didn't get up to the horse ranch to visit the horses.  Instead, on Saturday, we returned to the Whitewater Preserve.  This is in a canyon way up by the San Bernardino mountains.  Yes, the mountains where the fugitive is hiding!  (or was...)...Anyway, it was such a cold and windy day up there that I sat in the car most of the time!  We headed back home and I took a 3 hour nap.  I did get out for a 2 hour walk in the morning, but, by noon, I was worn out!  I'm still recovering from the flu and bronchitis I had last weekend.  I'll probably just stay home today and REST!!!

Quail fence in Pinyon ~ Friday's Fences~ 020813

This adorable fence is on a ranch up in Pinyon Flats near one of my friends' homes.  I often travel this side road just to view the mountain behind the fence, but on this day I was more interested in the fence!~Friday's Fences for February 8, 2013.  To visit Friday's Fences, please go to:   http://lifeaccordingtojanandjer.blogspot.com/

Another storm is on its way~SkyWatch Friday~020813

I took this photo last Friday afternoon, after school.  I was out driving around and I was about halfway up to the Santa Rosa mountain visitor center when I spotted these unusual-looking clouds.  Another storm is coming our way tomorrow and will be here over the weekend, with rain forecast for both Friday and Saturday and snow down to 2,500 feet!  Oh, what fun!  I haven't really been in the snow in our local mountains yet this year!   :-)  SkyWatch Friday for February 8, 2013.   To visit SWF, please go to:   http://skyley.blogspot.com/

"D" is for DUCKS! ~ ABC Wednesday 020613

"D" is for ducks and our local park has plenty of them right now!  I have NO idea how many ducks are there.  They fly in and they fly out, but people also come by every day and feed them, like the man in the second photo.  I enjoy walking through the park, if I have time, in the mornings, before school.  I don't feed the ducks anymore, but I do enjoy taking photos of them.  Some of them are very tame.  ABC Wednesday for February 6, 2013.  To visit ABC Wednesday, please go to:   http://abcwednesday-mrsnesbitt.blogspot.com/

And, now...for a hint of spring! :-)

I found these beautiful flowers up at our local Von's market when I was there on Friday.  I had to run into the store to buy a few items and I couldn't resist!  Fortunately I had my camera with me that afternoon!

I heard a WHOOSH and all the doves scattered

I stayed home from school today.  I was sick ALL WEEKEND with the flu...bodyaches, headache, diarrhea (just what you wanted to hear, right?) and a nasty, horrible, wheezing cough that wouldn't quit...I thought I was ready to go today, but after being up an hour, I was lightheaded and dizzy.  Oh, boy!  I had just spent 2 days sprawled out on the couch, sleeping for about 16 hours each day.  Actually, it was more like 20...I vaguely remember a few hours of consciousness...So today, while sitting here at my desktop, I heard a loud flapping of wings.  I went outside and yup, the Cooper's hawk struck again.  There are morning dove feathers outside our front porch.  That means he now is comfortable coming into our front yard, among all of our trees there, and picking his prey.  ALL the birds in the yard immediately vanished and stayed away for about an hour.  I went out and cleaned up the feathers.  There's never any blood or body parts...just feathers.  He seems to eat every 3 days, so all should be safe for a couple of days.  I'm pretty sure he is an immature one, as he has a lot of white on him.  I often see him on the telephone pole which is in our back yard, or on one of the two across the street.  I can tell when he is up there as there are NO birds in the yard AT ALL.  I have mixed feelings about him, as I've said before.  Hopefully he is also cleaning out the rats and mice in the neighborhood, not just the doves.  (***NOT MY PHOTO***)

Look who's here to greet me!

No horse news this week.  I came down with the flu and my bronchitis kicked in yesterday and I spent the entire day on the couch.  I drank hot tea with lemon and even made some thyme tea (I added Manuka honey to that).  My fever broke and today I feel better and I can BREATHE!  I also put a compress of hot onions on my chest...don't know if it was that or the hot chicken soup with rice that hubby bought, but today I can breathe!  And, my chest isn't rattling and I'm not wheezing!  Anyway, we have this fence between us and our neighbor to the west.  I feed the birds on the cross beams and this little guy was waiting for me one afternoon.  I'd taken my camera with me that day, so I was able to get this photo of him.  Unfortunately, we have a Cooper's hawk now in the neighborhood and Friday I came home to feathers all over the yard!  Well, the hawk has to eat, too...I just wish he wouldn't devour my doves!  I'm fairly certain he also got my scrub jay, who has been gone now for 3 weeks.  I miss his chatter.  I really enjoy scrub jays and we have them 10 minutes away in our local mountains and they are also up at the ranch.